Page 32 of My Wicked Earl
“You wish to visit Arabella? In Wales? And incur Nick’s displeasure? The girl needs to languish a bit more and contemplate her foolish decision in conspiring to have her brother’s fiancé kidnapped. Of the many things Arabella has done out of spite, that was by far the worst.”
“I’m sure Nick won’t mind if I visit. He’s very forgiving.”
The Dowager gave a short bark of laughter. “Are we speaking of the same man?” “He’ll welcome her back soon enough. She’s his sister.”
“Doubtful, granddaughter. He is very angry with Arabella, though he loves her dearly. Your desire to visit Wales will conflict with the house party we are hosting. That will never do.” Grandmother raised a brow waiting for her response.
“I knew nothing about this house party, Grandmother.” Miranda allowed her annoyance to show. “And to invite Lord Hamill and Lord Ridley without my knowledge was—”
“Appropriate.” The Dowager waved her hand. “I wish to help you secure a husband, now that you are determined to finally take one.”
Doubtful. Grandmother detested Lord Ridley. She said his clothes caused her to have dizzy spells.
“And,” Grandmother pursed her lips, “I wish to assist Lord Kilmaire, of course.”
“Of course.” Miranda’s fingers dug down into the cushion until she found the loose end of the shawl and began to tug at it again.
“Well, let’s have it. What do you think of my matchmaking skills?”
Miranda stopped tugging on the shawl. Perhaps it was the timbre of Grandmother’s question or the way the light green eyes narrowed on Miranda, but she had the very distinct impression that her Grandmotherknew.About Colin. All of it. Or at the very leastguessed. And Miranda was just as certain that wasn’t possible.
“I don’t think, Grandmother, that my opinion will have any effect one way or another on the choice that Lord Kilmaire makes.”
“Oh, I think your opinion will matter a great deal.”
There it was again. That slight, knowing tone to her words. Grandmother might suspect that Miranda harbored feelings for Colin, but if she’d any idea that Miranda was no longer a maid, she would not be sitting so calmly in Miranda’s bedroom.
She is like a hound who has scented a fox.
Besides, what did it matter if the Dowager suspected that Miranda had once carried a torch for Colin? Her childish adoration was well known in the Cambourne family. She’d made a complete goose of herself years ago as a child by making Colin a paper crown and presenting it to him during a dinner party.
A speculative look entered the Dowager’s eyes. “Then let us discussyoursuitors if you refuse to discuss my choices for Lord Kilmaire. I findneitherappropriate. Nor does your brother. I fear he will strangle Ridley before you are wed a year. Possibly abscond with your viscount, to torture him in some macabre way learned from the Chinese. I’m told they are quite skilled in that regard.”
“How bloodthirsty you must imagine Sutton to be. Strangulation? Torture? I’m rather more afraid of Alex.”
“Your sister-in-law does not care for Ridley either.”
“You both gave me leave to decide my own fate. Perhaps Ridley is my fate.”
“And Lord Hamill is only a few years my junior, Miranda. We revolved in many of the same circles. His first wife made her debut shortly after I did, for goodness sakes.”
“He’s dignified.”
“That is a kind way to announce that someone is elderly.” The Dowager cocked her head. “Lady Hamill, God rest her soul, was a complete nitwit. Loved riding. I often saw her in Hyde Park. Did you know that’s how she died? She loved riding so much that she insisted doing so in a torrential downpour. She caught a fever shortly after and was dead within a fortnight.”
Grandmother, much like the Duke of Dunbar, knewsomethingabout nearly everyone in London. At times the information proved to be useful. At the moment, Miranda found it a bit grating. “How unfortunate.”
“Ridley,” Grandmother continued, speaking as if she’d just bitten into a peach pit, “is beyond the pale.”
“Why? He’s a viscount, he’s young, handsome, and educated.” Ridley had once dazzled Miranda, making her momentarily forget Colin. His allure had not lasted, unfortunately, though Miranda still thought he’d make an acceptable husband.
“Dandy. Fortune hunter. Treats you as if you don’t have a brain in your head. Will likely keep a mistress.” Grandmother ticked off his undesirable traits on her fingers.
“Grandmother!” Miranda pretended to be outraged by the assumption Ridley would keep a mistress, though it was likely to be true. The fact bothered Miranda not a bit. She had no illusions about Ridley. He would get her money and in return she would have a family of her own. Ridley would not ask anything of Miranda as long as she produced an heir and dangled on his arm prettily when required.
“Well, it’s true.”
“If they are both so disagreeable then why invite them to Gray Covington? Why mention such to Lord Kilmaire?”
